Our final performance from Beijing’s National Center for the Performing Arts is Donizetti’s charming comedy “Elixir of Love” on this week’s Sunday Opera (12/18 3:00 p.m.)
Nemorino (Francesco Meli) is in love with Adina (Serena Gamberoni), but Adina isn’t interested in him. She flirts with Belcore (Liu Songhu), a sergeant in the local militia, and they decide to marry which truly upsets Nemorino.
Enter Dr. Dulcamara (Enzo Capuano), a quack doctor and purveyor of snake oil. Nemorino asks him for a love potion that will make him irresistible to Adina. Thinking quickly, Dulcamara hands Nemorino a bottle of Bordeaux which he quickly drinks. Now, feeling that he is irresistible, he attracts a great deal of attention from the local girls except for Adina.
Along with Nemorino’s attitude, his fortunes change, and he becomes even more desirable to the young ladies, and finally, even Adina begins to notice.
Is there a happy ending where our young lovers end up together? Of course, there is.
Pier Girogio Morandi conducts the NCPA Orchestra and Chorus.
For a bit of seasonal music, stay tuned after the opera for a one-act opera of O’Henry’s charming tale of selfless Giving, “The Gift of the Magi” by David Conte. Aimee Puentes and Tim Krol are Della and Jim who sacrifice their prized possessions to buy Christmas gifts for each other. Elena Bocharova and Chad Runyon play their friends, and Branden Smith, Aaron DiPiazza, and Gary Sorenson are the voices of the Magi.
To truly get you into the spirit, we’ll end our time together with three Wassail Dances by Philip Lane, but please remember to wassail responsibly!